Happy International Students day , VBC!

Cheers to our diverse and dynamic community of learners!

Let’s hear what our students think about Vilnius.

We would like to say a big thank you to Vilnius City Municipality for this video!

Is it possible to become a lecturer when you start your studies in college? How do entrepreneurs transition into the teaching profession and leave their business behind? When does the moment come when your studies lead you to inspiration to learn more and have the courage to take on new challenges? In this blog, we present two real stories about Vilnius Business College students who became college instructors. How did they make it?

The only one without a diploma among everyone with degrees

“When I first entered the lecturers’ room, it felt strange. I entered not as a student but as a lecturer. I was equal amongst them. I will never forget it,” says Vytautas Šulus, an alumnus of Vilnius Business College who became a lecturer more than five years ago.

After a high school, Vytautas dived straight into the business world, and he first sat in a student’s desk at almost thirty. The reason was his employees, who all had an education except for him, the business owner. Understanding that he felt out of place and that he needed to study, Vytautas decided to study programming as he was already seriously interested in computers at that time. He chose extended studies at college as the best option for him.

“I came to study, and I never regretted it for a second because it gave me a lot in life and education and became a strong reason to continue learning. Studying at an older age benefited me because I knew better what I wanted,” said V. Šulus.

Photo from the personal archive by V. Šulus

Education and career shift

Studying at Vilnius Business College inspired Vytautas to open another company dealing with computer maintenance and sales, which was the business he always wanted. Motivated by his studies and his favorite IT field, he later studied business informatics and cyber security studies and obtained a master’s degree. While still running his business, Vytautas regularly took on many interns who he had to teach quite a few things. That’s when he realized that he had a lot of knowledge and the desire to share it. This naturally led to the idea of becoming a lecturer.

“I wrote to my thesis supervisor, Violeta Jadzgevičienė, who is also the head of the IT department, and thus, I returned to Vilnius Business College, but this time as a lecturer. Vilnius Business College is a very friendly institution that cares about its students. I have a lot of respect to my college and all the community there, so I feel a strong desire to give back since it gave me an opportunity to learn,” he commented his career turn.

Vytautas Šulus: “The students don’t let me to get old “

Currently, Vytautas Šulus teaches courses in cybersecurity and operating systems at our college. Teaching has become his main job, pushing his business to the background. He takes great pleasure in sharing his knowledge and experience, and is a popular lecturer amongst students. He is thankful to the young people for not letting him to get old. “Teaching is constant self-improvement. I have to be ready to answer all students’ questions, so I need to be curious, stay updated on innovations, and think deeply. When I interact with students, I am not just their lecturer; I am their friend and helper. I believe everyone has the potential to learn and succeed. The key question is whether the student wants it, and that’s very clear when standing in front of the class,” Vytautas Šulus notes.

Transitioning to teaching after receiving the professor’s approval

Laimonas Matukas is another alumnus of Vilnius Business College who studied programming and returned to the college in the autumn of 2023 as a lecturer. An experienced programmer, he received an offer to teach Java programming at our college and decided to give it a try after consulting with his father, a professor at Vilnius University. “I received the answer that teaching is a wonderful experience that has much to offer. I decided to give it a go. Although only a short time has passed, I can confirm that teaching at the college is genuinely interesting,” says Laimonas Matukas.

Photo from the personal archive by L. Matukas

Understanding that experience alone is not enough

Laimonas Matukas, in his earlier years, did not rush to get a diploma and instead, dove headfirst into programming, not caring about his education. He developed a lot of experience, and various courses helped him along the way. However, there came a time in his life when it was evident that he needed education. After finding a kindred spirit and his fate-friend, he started looking for where and what to study. Extended studies and an appealing program (Programming and Internet Technologies) were the reasons why both chose Vilnius Business College.

“I knew a lot about programming, so studying wasn’t difficult. What was new and change my perspective of thinking was the projects and their management. These skills were truly beneficial for me in my job,” recalled the alumnus. After receiving his diploma, he continued his work and taught in one academy.

Teaching motivates ongoing self-improvement

When asked how it feels to teach at the same educational institution where he studied, Laimonas Matukas first mentioned the motivation of the students: “College students put in a lot of effort, even if they don’t always show it openly.” The challenge for him was to make the lectures engaging and beneficial for students with different levels of expertise. “It seems like I know a lot, but the questions students ask force me to follow the latest trends, delve into nuances, and think critically. I’m glad that working at the college forces me to continuously improve my knowledge in the field,” Laimonas Matukas concluded.

This Friday, October 27, our college will be immersed in the Halloween spirit. As soon as you enter the college, you’ll find yourself caught in the clutches of Halloween, where you’re guaranteed to be affected by a spooky atmosphere and horrible sensations. The witching hours are from 9 AM until precisely noon when you’ll have to work hard to get a candy.

Later, the event will continue at Lyglaukių 38, where a wild party with costumes beyond your imagination awaits you from 8 PM. All Vilnius Business College students are invited to the party.

So get ready. Halloween is waiting for you.

The Halloween event is organized by the Vilnius Business College Student Council.

Congratulations to our international students as their studies at Vilnius Business College begin exactly now!

First day at the college means meeting new people, feeling over the moon about the new beginning and hearing some practical info about the start of the studies.

Tomorrow our international students will have an interesting tour of Vilnius. We believe that’s the best way to know a new city.

Welcome, and thank you for choosing studies at Vilnius Business College!

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Mannh Kamble came from India. Business management and marketing are already the second study programme which he studies in Lithuania. Who brought him from hot India to Lithuania, where he is counting the sixth year of his life? Mannh talks openly and honestly about his studies, cultural challenges and why living in a foreign country so strongly teaches us to live in the present. For your attention – an interview with our college student from abroad!

How did you end up at the Vilnius Business College?

Engineering studies brought me to Vilnius, but my old dream of working for myself and creating my own business did not leave me. I decided to take a break and once on my way to work I saw the inscription “Vilnius Business College” on a huge building. I got interested, read more, went to talk and…I was hooked. I was attracted by the study program, informal, warm communication, and an environment that does not resemble standard classrooms. The gap year I had planned ended very naturally before it even started. It felt like everything fell into place by itself.

And what is the study experience like after the first year?

Great! The first semester was very addictive because the studies are interactive. Instead of constantly reading a pile of books before, here the learning process is gradual and with a lot of practice. You need to read books, but the teacher can give you the task of finding the desired literature on a certain topic. We also pay a lot of attention to what is happening in business and in a particular field, not just in general, but at the moment, how it relates to the subject of study. And this is the case in all lectures, so studying is interesting.

My group mates are smart and cool, I really like them. I even work with some of them in the same job.

How did you manage to adapt in Lithuania, a completely new country for you?

I have been living in Vilnius for six years, so I am no longer a newcomer. When I was preparing to go to Lithuania for the first time, I was not too interested in the country, because the most important thing for me was my studies. Now it’s fun to remember when family members, just 30 minutes before leaving for the airport became interested in the climate of Lithuania and, seeing -20 C, rushed to look for warm clothes. Men’s or women’s jacket – it didn’t matter anymore! The housemates were also worried about the Indian food that I am used to.

I like Vilnius. I made friends from my previous studies, and later, in order to get to know Lithuanians better, I tried various methods, for example, talking to a stranger in the city every day. And I was successful! I also found friends with the help of my girlfriend. Currently, my circle consists of Lithuanians and foreigners, I have no friends from India.

When I could find a job, I found it on the Internet, social media with the help of networks. The fact that I am trying to learn to speak Lithuanian helps me a lot. I can now talk about simple everyday things.

What cultural challenges did you face?

What was new was that people in Lithuania value personal space much more. I like that Lithuanians are quite straightforward people: they don’t mince words, they say it as it is. When you find a Lithuanian friend, you know that he is real and reliable.

In India, I was used to a huge variety of languages, customs, religions, etc. diversity, and this is not the case in Lithuania. However, you get used to everything, even the Lithuanian weather, because after summer the temperature does not immediately drop to -20. The weather cools down gradually, and everything is saved by the right clothes.

What would you advise to our new students which considering studying at the Vilnius Business College?

Be open. The most important thing is to stay focused on your long-term plans, to be active every day. Study as many different subjects as possible, make the most of all the opportunities – that’s how your studies in Lithuania will be memorable. If you see an opportunity, such as a job offer on LinkedIn, don’t hesitate to give it a try.

It is very important to make as many contacts as possible and to learn the Lithuanian language. Local people, seeing your efforts, will be happy to help.

When you come to Lithuania, don’t compare it with your country. It doesn’t do anything and it doesn’t help in any way. You cannot have one foot in Lithuania and the other in your home country. You have to live in the present, here, where you are now, in Lithuania.

Thanks to Mannh Kamble for the interview! We wish you success in your further studies!

Vilnius Business College’s friendship with Georgia continues!

On 19th of June 2023, we welcomed guests from Tbilisi, with whom we are cooperating on the project “Priorities of the Lithuanian Language and Culture Centre of the Technical University of Sakhkartveli in 2023”.

For guests were introduced our college and its history, and we all had the opportunity to get to know each other better during an informal session.